Carrier for releasably attaching to  a shoulder strap and releasably carrying a pop-up umbrella

ABSTRACT

A carrier for attaching to a shoulder strap and carrying a pop-up umbrella. The carrier includes a back sheet, a front sheet, first apparatus releasably holding the pop-up umbrella in an umbrella-using position, second apparatus releasably holding the pop-up umbrella in an umbrella-stowed position, and third apparatus releasably attaching the carrier to the shoulder strap.

1. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

The embodiments of the present invention relate to a carrier for apop-up umbrella, and more particularly, the embodiments of the presentinvention relate to a carrier for releasably attaching to a shoulderstrap and releasably carrying a pop-up umbrella.

B. Description of the Prior Art

Numerous innovations for umbrella supports have been provided in theprior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may besuitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address,however, they differ from the embodiments of the present invention inthat they do not teach carrier for releasably attaching to a shoulderstrap and releasably carrying a pop-up umbrella

(1) U.S. Pat. No. 2,223,253 to Hamilton.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,223,253 issued to Hamilton on Nov. 26, 1940 in class 224and subclass 5.1 teaches a support for an umbrella, having a staffprovided with a slidable runner and handle, including a frame having ashoulder saddle, an arm swingingly connected to the frame forwardlythereof for vertical movement, a clamp for detachable engagement withthe handle and pivotally linked with the arm, a lever for verticalswinging movement pivoted to the upper portion of the frame, a clampengaging the runner and pivotally connected to the lever, and apparatuson the frame and engageable with the arm for selectively holding it inone of several adjusted positions.

(2) U.S. Pat. No. 3,554,203 to Hall, Sr.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,554,203 issued to Hall, Sr. on Jan. 12, 1971 in class135 and subclass 20 teaches an adjustable umbrella support having aframework member receiving an umbrella thereon and having horizontallydisposed slots adjacent each end thereof, backstraps adjacent each endof the framework and having vertically disposed slots in intersectingregistry with the horizontal slots, shoulder straps adjacent to andrepresenting an extension of the backstraps and carrying fasteningapparatus passing through the aforesaid registered slots for adjustablysecuring the framework, backstraps, and shoulder straps together, and aflexible web belt carried by the backstraps for securement about thewaist of the user.

(3) U.S. Pat. No. 3,700,149 to Grogan.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,700,149 issued to Grogan on Oct. 24, 1972 in class 224and subclass 5.1 teaches an elongated hollow substantially rigid memberadapted to receive the shaft of an umbrella, and having an elongatedfilament slidably connected with the elongated hollow member andextending the length of the hollow member. The filament has the centralportion thereof formed as a loop adapted to surround the wearer by goingover one shoulder and under the opposed arm of the wearer, and theterminal ends thereof surrounding the waist of the wearer; and apparatusfor securing the terminal ends. Also, included is apparatus adapting theelongated hollow member to receive umbrella shafts of differentdiameters, and insertable apparatus releasably securing the umbrellashaft within the elongated hollow member.

(4) U.S. Pat. No. 3,730,197 to Lunney.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,730,197 issued to Lunney on May 1, 1973 in class 135 andsubclass 16 teaches a shopping bag having a handle and adapted to becarried with or without use of the handle, which contains detachably aninverted collapsible telescopic umbrella. The handle of the umbrella isdetachably held at the bottom of the bag and the umbrella can beextended and opened for use by pulling the umbrella upward by seizing itat its top.

(5) U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,977 to Schiro, Jr. et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,977 issued to Schiro, Jr. et al. on Oct. 11, 1994 inclass 224 and subclass 251 teaches an umbrella holster providing for thehands-free support of an umbrella held thereby, with the umbrella beingdisposed to the front of the wearer of the holster to provide readyaccess for adjustment of the umbrella. The holster includes a waist beltand two back and shoulder straps, which straps secure to the umbrellasupport tube extending vertically upward from the front of the belt. Theholster also provides for positive retention of the umbrella therein toprevent the inadvertent lifting of the umbrella from the holster due towinds or other conditions and for the height adjustment of the umbrellashaft by a telescoping umbrella handle and tube arrangement. The beltpasses through a slot in the bottom of the main support tube and is heldtherein by a cap on the end of the tube. While the two shoulder straptube attachment ends are immovably fixed to the upper end of the supporttube, the lower end of the second shoulder strap is free to slide alongthe belt for adjustment. The arrangement provides for the lateraladjustment of the asymmetrical holster configuration, if desired. Theassembly may be formed of a variety of materials, such as leather and/orplastic, and may include an umbrella in combination.

(6) U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,761 to Vadher.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,761 issued to Vadher on Mar. 9, 1999 in class 135and subclass 16 teaches a holding device for attaching to a torso andsupporting a pop-up umbrella upright without the use of hands of awearer, and has an in-use position where it is RELEASABLY attached tothe torso of the wearer and a non-use position where it is removed fromthe torso of the wearer and stowed away for easy transport. The holdingdevice includes a carrying case having an open position when the holdingdevice is in its in-use position and a closed position when the holdingdevice is in its non-use position, a sleeve pivotally mounted in thecarrying case, a pop-up umbrella having an open position, a closedposition, and a shaft captured in the sleeve for lateral pivotalmovement therewith so as to allow the pop-up umbrella to pivot away fromthe wearer before being opened and thereby prevent injury to the wearerwhen the carrying case is in its open position and the holding device isin its in-use position, and apparatus for RELEASABLY attaching thecarrying case to the torso of the wearer when the carrying case is inits open position and the holding device is in its in-use position.

(7) U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,722 to Christie.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,722 issued to Christie on Oct. 30, 2001 in class 135and subclass 16 teaches an umbrella and backpack combination includingan umbrella having a collapsible canopy and a straight center shaftextending to a lower extremity having a spring-biased locking feature. Abackpack having a storage compartment bounded in part by forward andrearward fabric surfaces confines an umbrella holding structure having avertically disposed tubular receiver and horizontally disposedstabilizing bars attached to the receiver. The lower extremity of theshaft enters the receiver and RELEASABLY locks therewith.

(8) U.S. Pat. No. 6,619,520 to Hammond.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,619,520 issued to Hammond on Sep. 16, 2003 in class 224and subclass 188 teaches a hands-free carry-bag/umbrella sling with afrontally-disposed receptacle and rearward support harness. The supportharness includes a broad three-strap wishbone support for holding asignificant load and the umbrella securely against the body. The frontalreceptacle is sized to carry a considerable payload, and it includes apocket for receiving the handle of any conventional umbrella, inclusiveof curved handles. A support sewn into the carry-bag/umbrella slingsupports the shaft of the umbrella. The particularly configured shapeprovides a snug fit, yet the carry-bag provides for quick and easydeployment and removal. The free-hanging design safely and securelyholds any size umbrella in its open configuration. Moreover, when thecarry-bag is not in use, its particularly configured paneled structureeasily collapses and folds for storage.

(9) U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,173 to Haber.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,173 issued to Haber on Mar. 15, 2005 in class 224and subclass 160 teaches a backpack assembly including a back portionand a front portion. The front portion includes a strap member includingumbrella supports for holding an umbrella in an opened and closedposition in front of the wearer to protect the wearer from the elements.Optionally, a child carrier may also be attached to the front portion ofthe backpack assembly.

It is apparent that numerous innovations for umbrella supports have beenprovided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, eventhough these innovations may be suitable for the specific individualpurposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable forthe purposes of the embodiments of the present invention as heretoforedescribed, namely, a carrier for releasably attaching to a shoulderstrap and releasably carrying a pop-up umbrella.

2. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, an object of the embodiments of the present invention is toprovide a carrier for releasably attaching to a shoulder strap andreleasably carrying a pop-up umbrella, which avoids the disadvantages ofthe prior art.

Briefly stated, another object of the embodiments of the presentinvention is to provide a carrier for attaching to a shoulder strap andcarrying a pop-up umbrella. The carrier includes a back sheet, a frontsheet, first apparatus releasably holding the pop-up umbrella in anumbrella-using position, second apparatus releasably holding the pop-upumbrella in an umbrella-stowed position, and third apparatus releasablyattaching the carrier to the shoulder strap.

The novel features considered characteristic of the embodiments of thepresent invention are set forth in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of the specificembodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanyingdrawing.

3. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic front view of the carrier of the embodiments ofthe present invention releasably attached to a shoulder strap andreleasably carrying a pop-up umbrella;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic front view of the carrier of theembodiments of the present invention in the umbrella-using positionidentified by ARROW 2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged diagrammatic front view of the carrier of theembodiments of the present invention in the umbrella-stowed position;

FIG. 4 is an exploded diagrammatic perspective view of the carrier ofthe embodiments of the present invention being releasably attached to ashoulder strap;

FIG. 5 is an exploded diagrammatic front view of the carrier of theembodiments of the present invention releasably receiving a pop-upumbrella in the umbrella-using position;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic front view of the carrier of the embodiments ofthe present invention in the umbrella-stowed position; and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic side view of the carrier of the embodiments ofthe present invention releasably receiving a pop-up umbrella forachieving the umbrella-using position.

4. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING

A. General.

-   -   10 carrier of present invention for attaching to shoulder strap        12 and carrying pop-up umbrella 14    -   12 shoulder strap    -   14 pop-up umbrella

B. Overall Configuration of Carrier 10.

-   -   16 back sheet    -   18 front sheet    -   first apparatus for releasably holding pop-up umbrella 14 in        umbrella-using position    -   22 second apparatus for releasably holding pop-up umbrella 14 in        umbrella-stowed position    -   24 third apparatus for releasably attaching carrier 10 to        shoulder strap 12

C. Specific Configuration of Back Sheet 16.

-   -   26 shoulder-strap-facing surface of back sheet 16    -   28 umbrella-facing surface of back sheet 16    -   30 pair of sides of back sheet 16    -   32 top of back sheet 16    -   34 bottom of back sheet 16

D. Specific Configuration of Front Sheet 18.

-   -   36 back sheet-facing surface of front sheet 18    -   38 ambient-facing surface of front sheet 18    -   40 pair of sides of front sheet 18    -   42 top of front sheet 18    -   44 bottom of front sheet 18

E. Specific Configuration of First Apparatus 20.

-   -   46 pocket of first apparatus 22 for releasably capturing handle        47 of umbrella 14 when in umbrella-using position    -   47 handle of pop-up umbrella 14    -   48 back tab of pocket 46 of first apparatus 22    -   50 front tab of pocket 46 of first apparatus 22    -   52 bottom of back tab 48 of pocket 46 of first apparatus 22    -   54 bottom of front tab 50 of pocket 46 of first apparatus 22    -   55 first portions of mating hook and loop fasteners of first        apparatus 22    -   56 strap of first apparatus 20 for capturing shaft 58 of        umbrella 14 when in umbrella-using position    -   58 shaft of pop-up umbrella 14    -   60 second portions of mating portions of hook and loop fasteners        of first apparatus 22

F. Specific Configuration of Second Apparatus 22.

-   -   62 wings of second apparatus 22    -   64 portion of hook and loop fasteners of second apparatus 22    -   66 mating portion of hook and loop fasteners of second apparatus        22

G. Specific Configuration of Third Apparatus 24

-   -   68 pair of straps of third apparatus 24    -   70 mating portions of hook and loop fasteners of third apparatus        24 for releasably attaching carrier 10 to shoulder strap 12

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A. General.

Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate likeparts, and particularly to FIG. 1, which is a diagrammatic front view ofthe carrier of the embodiments of the present invention releasablyattached to a shoulder strap and releasably carrying a pop-up umbrella,the carrier of the present invention is shown generally at 10 forattaching to a shoulder strap 12 and carrying a pop-up umbrella 14.

B. The Overall Configuration of the Carrier 10.

The configuration of the carrier 10 can best be seen in FIGS. 2-7, whichare, respectively, an enlarged diagrammatic front view of the carrier ofthe embodiments of the present invention in the umbrella-using positionidentified by ARROW 2 in FIG. 1, an enlarged diagrammatic front view ofthe carrier of the embodiments of the present invention in theumbrella-stowed position, an exploded diagrammatic perspective view ofthe carrier of the embodiments of the present invention being releasablyattached to a shoulder strap, an exploded diagrammatic front view of thecarrier of the embodiments of the present invention releasably receivinga pop-up umbrella in the umbrella-using position, a diagrammatic frontview of the carrier of the embodiments of the present invention in theumbrella-stowed position, and a diagrammatic side view of the carrier ofthe embodiments of the present invention releasably receiving a pop-upumbrella for achieving the umbrella-using position, and as such, will bediscussed with reference thereto.

The carrier 10 comprises a back sheet 16, a front sheet 18, firstapparatus 20 for releasably holding the pop-up umbrella 14 in anumbrella-using position, second apparatus 22 for releasably holding thepop-up umbrella 14 in an umbrella-stowed position, and third apparatus24 for releasably attaching the carrier 10 to the shoulder strap 12.

C. The Specific Configuration of the Back Sheet 16.

The back sheet 16 is made of a thin flexible sheet-like material, andhas a shoulder-strap-facing surface 26, an umbrella-facing surface 28, apair of sides 30, a top 32, and a bottom 34.

D. The Specific Configuration of the Front Sheet 18

The front sheet 18 is made of a thin flexible sheet-like material, andhas a back sheet-facing surface 36, an ambient-facing surface 38, a pairof sides 40, a top 42, and a bottom 44.

The top 42 of the front sheet 18 is pivotally attached to the top 32 ofthe back sheet 16, with the back sheet-facing surface 36 of the frontsheet 18 facing the umbrella-facing surface 28 of the back sheet 16,with the pair of sides 40 of the front sheet 18 in proximity to the pairof sides 30 of the back sheet 16, and the bottom 44 of the front sheet18 in proximity to the bottom 34 of the back sheet 16.

E. The Specific Configuration of the First Apparatus 20.

The first apparatus 20 includes a pocket 46. The pocket 46 of the firstapparatus 22 is for releasably capturing the handle 47 of the umbrella14 when in the umbrella-using position, and is defined by a back tab 48and a front tab 50 pivotally attached at their bottom 52 and 54,respectively, to each other and to the bottom 34 of the back sheet 16,on the umbrella-facing surface 28 of the back sheet 16, and isreleasably maintained thereat by first portions of mating hook and loopfasteners 55 thereon

The first apparatus 20 further includes a strap 56. The strap 56 of thefirst apparatus 20 is for capturing the shaft 58 of the umbrella 14 whenin the umbrella-using position, and is pivotally attached across the top32 of the back sheet 16, on the umbrella-facing surface 28 of the backsheet 16, and is releasably maintained thereat by second portions ofmating portions of hook and loop fasteners 60 thereon.

F. The Specific Configuration of the Second Apparatus 22.

The second apparatus 22 includes wings 62. The wings 62 of the secondapparatus 22 extend outwardly from the pair of sides 30 of the backsheet 16, preferably one-piece therewith

The second apparatus 22 further includes a portion 64 of hook and loopfasteners. The portion 64 of hook and loop fasteners of the secondapparatus 22 is on the wings 62 of the second apparatus 22, on theumbrella-facing surface 28 of the back sheet 14.

The second apparatus 22 further includes a mating portion 66 of hook andloop fasteners. The mating portion 66 of hook and loop fasteners of thesecond apparatus 22 is on the ambient-facing surface 38 of the frontsheet 18, adjacent the pair of sides 40 of the front sheet 18.

The wings 62 of the second apparatus 22 fold over onto theambient-facing surface 38 of the front sheet 18, with the portion 64 ofhook and loop fasteners of the second apparatus 22 on the wings 62 ofthe second apparatus 22 releasably mating with the mating portion 66 ofhook and loop fasteners of the second apparatus 22 on the ambient-facingsurface 38 of the front sheet 18, thereby releasably capturing thepop-up umbrella 14 between the back sheet 16 and the front sheet 18,with the handle 47 releasably captured in the pocket 46 of the firstapparatus 22

G. The Specific Configuration of the Third Apparatus 24

The third apparatus 24 includes a pair of straps 68. The pair of straps68 of the third apparatus 24 extend across the shoulder-strap-facingsurface 26 of the back sheet 16, and terminate in mating portions ofhook and loop fasteners 70 for releasably attaching the carrier 10 tothe shoulder strap 12.

H. The Conclusions.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in acarrier for attaching to a shoulder strap and carrying a pop-upumbrella, however, it is not limited to the details shown, since it willbe understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions andchanges in the forms and details of the device illustrated and itsoperation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing inany way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitutecharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

1. A carrier for attaching to a shoulder strap and carrying a pop-upumbrella, comprising: a) a back sheet; b) a front sheet; c) first meansfor releasably holding the pop-up umbrella in an umbrella-usingposition; d) second means for releasably holding the pop-up umbrella inan umbrella-stowed position; and e) third means for releasably attachingsaid carrier to the shoulder strap.
 2. The carrier of claim 1, whereinsaid back sheet is made of a thin flexible sheet-like material; andwherein said back sheet has: a) a shoulder-strap-facing surface; b) anumbrella-facing surface; c) a pair of sides; d) a top; and e) a bottom.3. The carrier of claim 2, wherein said front sheet is made of a thinflexible sheet-like material; and wherein said front sheet has: a) aback sheet-facing surface; b) an ambient-facing surface; c) a pair ofsides; d) a top; and e) a bottom; wherein said top of said front sheetis pivotally attached to said top of said back sheet; wherein said backsheet-facing surface of said front sheet faces said umbrella-facingsurface of said back sheet; wherein said pair of sides of said frontsheet is in proximity to said pair of sides of said back sheet; andwherein said bottom of said front sheet is in proximity to said bottomof said back sheet.
 4. The carrier of claim 3, wherein said first meansincludes a pocket; wherein said pocket of said first means is forreleasably capturing the handle of the umbrella when in saidumbrella-using position; wherein said pocket of said first means isdefined by a back tab and a front tab pivotally attached at their bottomto each other and to said bottom of said back sheet, on saidumbrella-facing surface of said back sheet, and is releasably maintainedthereat by first portions of mating hook and loop fasteners thereon. 5.The carrier of claim 4, wherein said first means includes a strap; andp1 wherein said strap of said first means is for capturing the shaft ofthe umbrella when in the umbrella-using position, and is pivotallyattached across said top of said back sheet, on said umbrella-facingsurface of said back sheet, and is releasably maintained thereat bysecond portions of mating portions of hook and loop fasteners thereon.6. The carrier of claim 5, wherein said second means includes wings; andwherein said wings of said second means extend outwardly from said pairof sides of said back sheet.
 7. The carrier of claim 6, wherein saidsecond means includes a portion of hook and loop fasteners; and whereinsaid portion of hook and loop fasteners of said second means is on saidwings of said second means, on said umbrella-facing surface of said backsheet.
 8. The carrier of claim 7, wherein said second means includes amating portion of hook and loop fasteners; and wherein said matingportion of hook and loop fasteners of said second means is on saidambient-facing surface of said front sheet, adjacent said pair of sidesof said front sheet.
 9. The carrier of claim 8, wherein said wings ofsaid second means fold over onto said ambient-facing surface of saidfront sheet, with said portion of hook and loop fasteners of said secondmeans on said wings of said second means releasably mating with saidmating portion of hook and loop fasteners of said second means on saidambient-facing surface of said front sheet, thereby releasably capturingthe pop-up umbrella between said back sheet and said front sheet, withthe handle releasably captured in said pocket of said first means. 10.The carrier of claim 9, wherein said third means includes a pair ofstraps; and wherein said pair of straps of said third means extendacross said shoulder-strap-facing surface of said back sheet, andterminate in mating portions of hook and loop fasteners for releasablyattaching said carrier to the shoulder strap.